MICHAEL ESSIEN has hit back at Alex Ferguson’s claim that Chelsea are a team of old men. Fergie insists new Blues boss Phil Scolari has inherited a club in decline.

But Chelsea midfielder Essien reckons the Manchester United chief is talking nonsense — and vows the experienced likes of £8million Deco, 30, Michael Ballack, 31, and Frank Lampard, 30, will bring the title to Stamford Bridge next season.

The powerful Ghanaian, 25, said: “We’ve got the best players in the world and we will be the only team in contention by May.

“It is to our advantage to have so many players who have achieved so much in the game and can deal with the pressure.

“Players like Ballack, Lampard and Deco are world class. They can change a game in an instant.

“When you are working with them on a regular basis, you improve every day as a player and as a team.

“We have also developed a strong winning mentality. Everybody wants to win — we are all bad losers.

“I don’t think United will be our principal rivals. Liverpool, Arsenal and a lot of other clubs are signing good players.”

Essien confirmed SunSport’s revelation this week that he has signed a new five-year-deal.

And he added: “We have now got one of the best coaches in the world. He’s similar to Jose Mourinho in a way. If he sees something in training, he stops the game and tells you what he feels.

“During training, he’s a tough guy but off the pitch he’s very friendly. You need a big character to be the manager of Chelsea — and he has that.”